Rep. Darrell Issa Investigating Union Political Spending
Issa is demanding documents from the NLRB and the FEC, and is requesting written answers to several questions from the UAW, SEIU, NEA, and AEA. He wants to know how the unions notifiy workers of their Beck rights, why the UAW requires that Beck objections be renewed each year, and if the workers have complained about the annual renewals.
Additionally, Issa wants to know if unions take steps to help ensure that union workers who exercise their Beck rights do not face ridicule and harassment. Issa also asks if the unions notify workers about how much money is spent on non-representational activities, how the unions determine what expenditures are non-representational and therefore should be excluded from the agency fee, and what activities they consider non-representational.
Further, Issa asks if the unions account for differences in non-representational spending in election years versus non-election years.
Issa specifically questions union spending on clear left-wing causes — such as the One Nation Working Together rally on October 2, 2010, in Washington, D.C., or spending supporting the Occupy movement — and how those expenditures qualify as representational activity.
Issa is also demanding that unions answer whether or not they allow all union workers to object to non-representational activities, or if only agency fee-payers are permitted to object. If the objections are limited, Issa asks if the unions support extending the right to object to all members.
He further requested information on Beck complaints from the NLRB and information about an investigation of Waite’s complaints by FEC.
Issa also announced the launch of a “crowdsourcing” website — ProtectingOurWorkers.com – to seek more stories of union abuse regarding political campaigns.
I’m in a union and though I appreciate its use in collective bargaining for my contract with employment, I am NOT happy with my dues going to elect/support democrats. I would, of course have to say I wouldn’t be happy with my dues going to support ANY candidate, regardless of political affiliation.
The union “leaders” who actively separate themselves from the work-a-day masses they allegedly represent, are now elitists who party with top government officials, take expensive, private vacations and consider themselves superior to their peers.
It’s disgusting.
“Rebuild the Dream”: Ex-Obama Adviser Van Jones on Life Inside White House, Right-Wing Smear Attack
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/3/rebuild_the_dream_ex_obama_adviser
A former local president and national officer, I have been blackballed and black listed by my union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, for opposing their socialist politics and demanding accountability from highly paid staff and executive. They like to talk about Big Oil, Big Business, Big Corporations etc. but Big Union is just as corrupt (or perhaps more so) as the things they love to pillory.
– bites man.
I don’t know what Issa is doing other than getting a few electrons on blogs. EVERYONE who knows anything about collective bargaining knows that there is hardly a union in the US that has a dues structure or a record keeping system that would withstand Constitutional scrutiny. It isn’t a coincidence that the very modest reporting requirements instituted by GWB were rescinded as Comrade Obama’s hand was coming off the Bible he doesn’t believe in. LM-2 reports are works of fiction in a Republican administration and the unions don’t even bother to file them in a Democrat administration.
There’s is absolutely nothing that can be done at the federal level since organized labor owns the USDOL and USDOJ on these issues. The more relevant question is why aren’t AGs and Governors in the states under Republican control doing anything? It really isn’t hard and you really can cut off a union’s dues income and live to a ripe old age sitting around typing on blogs.
Issa appears to be the only GOP representative who is actually doing his job. We in San Diego County are proud of him and ashamed of the week kneed politicos that don’t do their job.
What has Issa accomplished? nothing.. what a waste.. and i’m frustrated because I did have hope that some justice would be had.. but looks like we’ve been had.. nothing nothing nothing has been done about anything..
He wants to know how the unions notifiy workers of their Beck rights, why the UAW requires that Beck objections be renewed each year, and if the workers have complained about the annual renewals.
I have been in the UAW for almost 26 yrs. I have NEVER been informed of my Beck rights. When I asked my rep how much of my union dues were going to political causes, he told me “none, there if a separate PAC for that”. I didn’t believe him then and I don’t believe him now.
My question is how do I go about informing my other union members about the Beck decision and what procedure must be followed in order to opt out of this portion of our dues?
Start by going to the linked website and letting Issa’s staff know about your issues.
Thank-you. It was a good start.
Union leadership and the DNC is living a gold plated lifestyle off the backs of their members. Its time for that to end.
The Union leader fatcats will continue the gravy train of easy money harvested from the paychecks of the people they are supposedly working for and will continue to send it to Democrats, who are busily destroying high wage unions jobs in the petrolium industry. They love rubbing elbows with the powerful, slurping up cocktails and oysters, using the money of their membership. Kind of like a Democrat Party controlled Congress.
Congressman Issa has taken on AG Holder about the murderous F&F disaster, the unions on blatant Beck fraud, and recently the GSA for waste, fraud and abuse (Their bosses spent two years and $1 million on a clearly illegal boondoggle in Fun town. There may be more to come.)
Does any one else doing any work in Congress? According to press reports, we are in a war. Bodies keep returning to Dover DE.
Pad lock the door, and sell it to Home Depot.
Indeed, give the whole city back to Maryland and move to some place in the middle where people work for a living.
Don’t you understand. Unions owe their very existence to government. Without armed law officers protecting strikers business would have their goons gun strikers down and use scabs to take YOUR jobs. Political contributions to the right candidates are the most important thing union leaders can do.